--- title: My IntelliJ IDEA Setup for Java Development | daily.dev description: A seasoned Java developer shares their refined IntelliJ IDEA setup after seven years of daily use. Key topics include JVM heap tuning for the IDE (setting max... canonical: https://daily.dev/posts/my-intellij-idea-setup-for-java-development-jxgd5iqxr twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:site: @dailydotdev og:type: website og:site_name: daily.dev og:title: My IntelliJ IDEA Setup for Java Development | daily.dev og:description: A seasoned Java developer shares their refined IntelliJ IDEA setup after seven years of daily use. Key topics include JVM heap tuning for the IDE (setting max... og:url: https://daily.dev/posts/my-intellij-idea-setup-for-java-development-jxgd5iqxr og:image: https://api.daily.dev/og/posts/JxGd5iQxR.png og:image:alt: My IntelliJ IDEA Setup for Java Development og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 630 og:locale: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # My IntelliJ IDEA Setup for Java Development **[ForrestKnight](https://daily.dev/sources/fknight)** · 17 min read · 5 upvotes · 0 comments ## Summary A seasoned Java developer shares their refined IntelliJ IDEA setup after seven years of daily use. Key topics include JVM heap tuning for the IDE (setting max heap to 8 GB), AI coding tools integration (Claude Code CLI, Codex, GitHub Copilot, and the new J Debugger MCP skill in 2026.2), code completion and live templates, auto-formatting with Spotless and Palantir Java Formatter, navigation shortcuts and Key Promoter X plugin, Git Toolbox for inline blame, rename refactoring, and debugging features like mark object, conditional breakpoints, and drop frame. Spring-specific features covered include the Spring Debugger, built-in HTTP client, and JPA Buddy. Additional plugins mentioned: SonarLint, Maven Helper, String Manipulation, and .ignore. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Questions this post answers ### How do I set up Testcontainers with Spring to run integration tests against a real PostgreSQL database? In Spring Boot, adding the @ServiceConnection annotation to a Testcontainers-managed PostgreSQL container automatically wires the datasource connection for integration tests, spinning up a disposable Docker container that is torn down afterward. This approach catches data-layer bugs that mocking a repository would miss, since real database behavior differs from mocked assumptions. _daily.dev surfaces practical Testcontainers and Spring integration testing patterns for developers hardening their data layer._ ### What does the J debugger skill do in IntelliJ IDEA 2026.2? The J debugger skill, introduced in IntelliJ IDEA 2026.2, is a bundled MCP-based skill that equips AI coding agents with access to the IDE's debugger functionality, letting an agent explore a running Java runtime as deeply as needed just by being asked, rather than requiring manual breakpoint and inspection work. _daily.dev tracks new AI-agent integrations like this for developers debugging Java applications day to day._ ### How do I increase the max heap size for IntelliJ IDEA itself rather than my application? IntelliJ IDEA's own memory settings let you raise the IDE's max heap (the Xmx flag for the IDE process) separately from Gradle, the compiler, or any running application; raising it from the 2GB default to 8GB improves indexing and search speed and reduces GC stalls, though gains taper off and GC pauses grow noticeably longer past 8GB even with much more system RAM available. _daily.dev collects real-world IDE tuning tips for Java developers chasing smoother IntelliJ performance._ ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [IntelliJ Series](https://daily.dev/posts/intellij-series-vetpyltcr) · Baeldung · 1 upvotes · 0 comments - [IntelliJ IDEA 2026.2 EAP Is Open](https://daily.dev/posts/intellij-idea-2026-2-eap-is-open-1mrjyeggc) · JetBrains · 5 upvotes · 1 comments - [SonarQube for IDE in IntelliJ: The Ultimate Java Developer’s Guide](https://daily.dev/posts/sonarqube-for-ide-in-intellij-the-ultimate-java-developer-s-guide-tofek2kgu) · Foojay.io · 1 upvotes · 1 comments --- Tags: [#devtools](https://daily.dev/tags/devtools), [#java](https://daily.dev/tags/java), [#spring](https://daily.dev/tags/spring) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/my-intellij-idea-setup-for-java-development-jxgd5iqxr) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://daily.dev/#organization","name":"daily.dev","url":"https://daily.dev","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://daily.dev/apple-touch-icon.png","width":180,"height":180},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/dailydotdev","https://github.com/dailydotdev","https://www.linkedin.com/company/daily-dev-ltd"]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://daily.dev/#website","url":"https://daily.dev","name":"daily.dev","publisher":{"@id":"https://daily.dev/#organization"},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://daily.dev/search?q={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}}]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"TechArticle","headline":"My IntelliJ IDEA Setup for Java Development","url":"https://daily.dev/posts/my-intellij-idea-setup-for-java-development-jxgd5iqxr","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://daily.dev/posts/my-intellij-idea-setup-for-java-development-jxgd5iqxr"},"datePublished":"2026-07-27T19:02:00.947Z","dateModified":"2026-09-13T20:31:34.236Z","description":"A seasoned Java developer shares their refined IntelliJ IDEA setup after seven years of daily use. 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